A COMPARISON OF SUPRASCAPULAR NERVE BLOCK VS INTRAARTICULAR STEROID INJECTION IN IMPROVEMENT OF HEMIPLEGIC SHOULDER PAIN.

Objective: To compare the mean improvement in pain on Visual Analogue Scale by Suprascapular nerve block and Intraarticular steroid injection in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Interventional Pain Management Center, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Rawalpindi, from Oct 2017 to Apr 2018. Methodology: A total of 60 patients with stroke and shoulder pain on hemiplegic side for at least 2 weeks were included, randomized by lottery into two groups; Group A receiving Suprascapular Nerve block with 5ml of 1% Lignocaine with Group B receiving Intra-articular 40mg Triamcinolone Acetonide plus 1ml of 1% Lignocaine injections. Mean change in pain scores on Visual Analogue Scale was calculated between score at baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention. Results: Out of a total of 60 subjects, 34 (56.67%) were males and 26 (43.33%) were females. Mean duration of stroke was 7.50 ± 2.66 months. Mean pain change in group A (Suprascapular Nerve block) was 3.83 ± 1.12 cm while in group B (intra-articular steroid injection) was 2.17 ± 0.99 cm (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Suprascapular Nerve block offered better improvement in hemiplegic shoulder pain on Visual Analogue Scale at 4 weeks as compared to intraarticular steroid injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]